Chapter 11: What We Don't Know About Uzuha Kaori

It had been weeks since the incident at the village. Sesshomaru never had enough time to ask Kaori what it was about alone, nor did he have enough time to be with her alone. Rin followed him nearly everywhere and only disappeared for a moment when he bathed. Jaken would keep watch, but little did that do. Jaken had cursed and swore at Kaori when she went to take her bath during Sesshomaru's and blushed a dark red before apologizing a million times. Luckily for her, guys didn't take walk-ins as seriously as girls did and forgave her in his own way; he kicked her ass during training. Kaori seriously apologized and he eventually went easy on her, but tripping her was too much fun.

Even during training, they weren't alone. Rin and Jaken would always watch in excitement. Rin usually cheered for Sesshomaru, but at the occasional times, she would root for Kaori. Jaken would always root for his lord, but if Sesshomaru was tripped or taken down, Jaken would curse and swear at Kaori. Only once was Sesshomaru taken down, and the day Jaken swore at Kaori was a day he regret. He was sore for three days after a beating from Kaori without her powers.

Kaori had her alone times while she bathed, but she never got a good look at her note in her locket. Sesshomaru usually did patrols around sunrise, but even when she did look at it, it seemed to be in some weird code she couldn't decipher. Maybe she should ask Sesshomaru about it if she could.

Spring had arrived at the training grounds and Kaori had one day of relaxation. Sesshomaru seemed she was pushing herself way too much and even had to pin her down a few times before she agreed to take a break. She asked Sesshomaru if she could take that day to see her parents, but he said no. Kaori did not understand why he would not allow her to see her parents, but let it drop and went for a peaceful walk in the woods. She did not tell Sesshomaru where she went, which worried him halfway through the day. He called out for Kaori and looked in the hut, but could not find Kaori. Her scent led to the nearby forest and he hurried in to check on her.

Kaori seemed to find the most beautiful place in the woods accidentally. He followed her scent and before he knew it, butterflies and birds joined him. He growled at them and they flew away.

He found Kaori resting against a tree with a bird in hand. It tweeted at her before flying off at the sound of Sesshomaru's footsteps. Kaori looked up to find Sesshomaru standing next to her, looking down at where she sat.

"Why did you not tell me where you went?" Sesshomaru asked.

"I thought I did," Kaori said. It then dawned on her she didn't, but had thought about it. She smiled sweetly up at him and patted the grass next to her for him to sit down. He sat down gracefully.

"It's beautiful here, isn't it?" Kaori asked, looking at all the blossoming trees. Sesshomaru wasn't paying attention to them. He finally had the alone time with Kaori he wanted and he wasn't going to waste it on scenery.

"We are finally alone," Sesshomaru said. Kaori leaned into him.

"Yes, we are," Kaori sighed. Sesshomaru's heart skipped a beat. She always knew how to distract him. He pushed her away from his body and looked at her with determination in his eyes.

"We need to talk," Sesshomaru told her.

Kaori gasped and looked at him. In her time, those words brought nothing good to them.

"About what?" Kaori asked.

"The village. When you tried to attack me," Sesshomaru told her. Kaori sighed before lowering her gaze. How did she know he was going to ask first chance he had.

"I can't explain it," Kaori told him. She felt a claw on her chin and raise her face to his.

"Try your best," he told her.

"You'll think I'm crazy," Kaori said, turning her eyes to the side.

"Never," he told her.

"Well," Kaori stuttered. "I was in the hut, this voice told me to defy you, I declined and then it took over."

Sesshomaru didn't bat and eye. "What type of voice?" Sesshomaru asked.

"Female. Very nice, unless it got angry," she explained, looking back at Sesshomaru. He didn't think she was crazy.

"Did she state who she was?" Sesshomaru asked.

"Some angel. I think it was something about the Uzuha Kaori angel. I wasn't exactly listening," she told him.

"That's what the villagers called you," he told her, removing his claw from her chin.

"Maybe we should talk to my mother about this. She knows a lot about my powers," Kaori explained. "She helped to explain my fire."

"What emotion is it?" Sesshomaru asked. He thought this was a good time to find out what it was.

"Um, can we have this conversation later?" Kaori asked really quickly.

"No, now," Sesshomaru told her.

"Love," Kaori said. At first, Sesshomaru thought she was calling him, but it was the emotion. Love, huh?

"I see," he said. Before Kaori said anything, he had pulled her to his chest. "We'll visit your family tomorrow."

"How long will we stay?" Kaori asked.

Usually he asked, but he was the one making the plans. She didn't mind. She was starting to miss her family. And seeing that the cycle was starting again, she didn't want Jaken crazy about her like last time. She took Sesshomaru's suggestion and stayed with him, but once Jaken caught her smell, he brought her many gifts and offered to even bathe her. She instantly called for Sesshomaru and he banned Jaken to not go near her on specific days. Jaken did not understand, but he followed his lord's orders. But he did sneak in to see Kaori when his lord wasn't watching.

"Just a few," he said. Kaori smiled and rested in his arms. Maybe this visit will be more relaxing than the other ones.

The next day, Kaori was having a lot of pain in her stomach. She was doubling over in pain in the beginning of the morning. Sesshomaru had to carry her, seeing that she couldn't get on Ah-Un without needing assistance and someone with her. Sesshomaru refused to ride an animal, so he carried her along with her bag. They got there fairly quickly, but she was still in pain.

Sesshomaru didn't even stop off at the village. He went straight to the well and brought her to her parents. Kaori's mother rushed over to her daughter and made some soup for her. Sesshomaru attempted to leave to put her bag in her room, but she grabbed his shirt in a death grip and told him to stay. For her.

Sesshomaru obliged and sat on the floor next to Kaori. Cleo didn't seem to be prancing in to bug Sesshomaru. He asked Kaori's parents where the cat was and they told him the cat was at the vet. It seemed to had gotten sick and needed to stay there for a few days. Then they explained what the vet was, seeing that he was slightly confused. Sesshomaru nodded and pet Kaori's hair. She had fainted a few minutes ago and had gotten a fever. Kaori's parents had never seen her like this before and tried their best to keep her calm.

Sesshomaru suggested to take her to the hospital, but they instantly said no. Doctors would not know what to do with her, and seeing that she was more than a human, they might not give her the proper treatment. Sesshomaru understood, but still thought the hospital was a good idea.

Nightfall had arrived and Kaori's parents had gone to bed. Sesshomaru was resting his eyes while sitting on the floor next to Kaori's head. A small, weak voice was heard next to him.

"Sesshomaru?" Kaori asked.

"I'm here," he told her, opening his eyes and petting her hair.

Kaori seemed very tired, but she had been sleeping for a long while. Her eyelids continuously fell, but she forced them open. She wanted to see Sesshomaru's face, no matter how dark it was. His amber eyes always seemed lit, even in the dark. Kaori sighed and closed her eyes for a moment.

"I'm really hungry," Kaori told him. "And cold."

"I have no food, but I can keep you warm," he told her. He placed a hand on her forehead. She still had a high fever. How could she be cold?

He didn't care. She was cold and he was going to warm her up. He carefully carried her into his lap. She didn't stir to get comfortable and he was wondering how sick she could be.

"Did you ask my mother why I was possessed?" Kaori asked.

"We were too worried about you to talk," Sesshomaru told her. "Well, we did talk about the cat."

He heard Kaori chuckle and stir slightly. He didn't mind. He was too worried about Kaori.

"Will you ask her tomorrow?" Kaori asked.

"Of course," he told her, placing a light kiss on her forehead. Oddly enough, her forehead didn't seem as hot as before. He placed his free hand on her forehead and it seemed her fever had gone down. He smirked and rested his forehead on hers. She was getting better.

"Everything all right?" Kaori asked.

"Just fine," he told her.

Kaori fell asleep and Sesshomaru raised his head. She looked so peaceful, but yet she was so sick. He traced her jaw line with one claw, making sure he didn't cut her. His claw ended up on her lips and saw them quiver as soon as he touched them. He placed a light kiss on them and rested his back against the table. He should rest as well.

The sun rose and Kaori's parents came downstairs. They saw Sesshomaru and he asked to get some more soup for Kaori. He explained she had awakened during the night and said she was hungry. They nodded and Kaori's father started cooking. Kaori's mother came next to Sesshomaru and kneeled next to him.

"Has anything happened in the last few months?" Kaori's mother whispered.

"As in?" Sesshomaru asked.

"Anything odd happen with her powers? Did her locket open? Did you have a very sweet talk? Anything?" Kaori's mother asked. Sesshomaru placed Kaori back on the couch and heard her moan. He looked at her and found her eyes fluttering open.

"The least you could have done was be softer when you put me down," Kaori snapped and sat up with slight difficulty.

"Rest," Sesshomaru ordered.

"I'm fine. I feel much better," Kaori told him, putting her feet on the floor. She tried to stand up, but swayed and fell back down.

"Your balance says a different story," Sesshomaru said.

Kaori stuck her tongue at Sesshomaru and crossed her arms.

"As you were saying," Sesshomaru said, turning to Kaori's mother. "There has been something odd going on."

"Really? What? It is important for me to know," Kaori's mother said, standing up.

"Many weeks ago, we were in a village. It seems Kaori was possessed by a Uzuha Kaori angel and attempted to-" Sesshomaru stopped. Kaori's mother's eyes had gone wide at the mention of the angel.

"You're joking right?" Kaori's father said.

"No, it actually happened," Kaori said.

"Kaori, dear, listen to me. Sesshomaru can't be around you anymore," Kaori's mother said, sitting next to her daughter.

Kaori's eyes went wide and looked at Sesshomaru.

"The Uzuha Kaori angel has been passed down from generation to generation, allowing no demons to come near us. I truly hoped it wasn't passed to you, but it seems it has," Kaori's mother told Kaori.

"No," Kaori gasped. "I won't."

"Dear, it can't be helped. Every time Sesshomaru tells you to do something and you don't want to, this angel will emerge from your soul and attempt to kill him," Kaori's mother explained. She embraced her daughter.

"No!" Kaori yelled and pushed her mother away. She looked over at Sesshomaru and his head was hanging. His eyes were covered by his bangs and Kaori only wanted to see those comforting orbs.

"Your mother tells the truth. She had to go through it too, and I was there the entire time. It helps us protect ourselves," Kaori's father told her, giving her soup. "It must be done."

"No! I won't. I'll never!" Kaori yelled shaking her head. Tears sprayed from her eyes. "I won't kill him. Never!"

"You might not, but the angel will," Kaori's mother said, embracing her daughter. "It's the Uzuha Kaori curse."

"Why does it contain my name?" Kaori asked.

"All of the princess are named Uzuha Kaori. It's my name too," Kaori's mother answered.

Kaori cried in her mother's arms. She didn't want to kill Sesshomaru. Never. She didn't want to see him die. She didn't want him to die. She didn't want to be without him. Kaori buried her head into her mother's shoulder. She either had to leave him or kill him. Neither she could stand.

"I love him, mom," Kaori mumbled. Sesshomaru didn't catch it for he had left while Kaori cried. He didn't want to hear or smell her tears. It broke his heart to see that he couldn't stop her tears or pain. That it's because of him she was in pain.

He had travelled back to the past to blow off some anger, pain, and sorrow. He couldn't live without Kaori. His entire life revolved around her now. What was he supposed to do if they weren't together? He could go searching for Naraku like before with Rin and Jaken. No, Rin had died and Naraku was after Kaori. If he didn't look over her, he would never forgive himself if anything happened to her. She had risked her life for him a few times and him in return. They were in love, and no one knew but them. If only Inuyasha was around to fight.

Sesshomaru thought his mind was playing tricks on him when he smelt Inuyasha's scent, but then he heard his voice. He turned around to the sound of the voice and a female one joined it as well.

"Inuyasha, wait up!" The female said.

"Quiet, Kagome," Inuyasha said.

"What is it?" Kagome asked.

"Sesshomaru," Inuyasha growled.

A smirk formed on Sesshomaru's face as he heard Inuyasha unsheathe Tetsusaiga and walked out into the clearing.

"Long time no see, Inuyasha," Sesshomaru said.

"Why is it I see you around this well now-a-days?" Inuyasha asked, looking at the well, then back at Sesshomaru. "Guarding it or something?"

"I have business with it. Yes, I guard over it, but only few know the purpose of it," Sesshomaru said. He saw Inuyasha sniff a few times and his eyes go wide, nearly dropping his sword.

"Is that a female scent on you?" Inuyasha asked. He sniffed again. "At least it's not human."

Sesshomaru glared at Inuyasha, holding onto the handle of the Tokijin. He didn't give Inuyasha permission to talk about Kaori. How dare he!

"It seems that you've... Holy shit!" Inuyasha dropped the Tetsusaiga and nearly fell over. Kagome came up behind him and passed the Tetsusaiga back to him, shaking him back to reality. Kagome never liked being around Sesshomaru for some odd reason. They always seemed to hate each other for just having some relation to Inuyasha. She hated him for he had tried to kill her on a few occasions and he hated her because she was his half-brother's wench.

"What's the matter?" Kagome asked.

"He... I swear... He's..." Inuyasha stuttered.

Kagome rolled her eyes, taking an arrow and bow. She aimed it at Sesshomaru, standing in front of a very shocked Inuyasha.

"It would be wise to lower that bow and arrow. I do not believe you would shoot it, for you are too scared," Sesshomaru stated. Fear radiated off of Kagome really strong. Though she was scared, she would protect Inuyasha under no circumstance. And this was one of them.

"I've done it before," Kagome told him. Her voice gave it away. It was quiet and soft. It cracked maybe once which brought a bigger smirk to Sesshomaru's face. He hadn't made any moves to attack them yet. He liked pursuing them to make the first attack, but it seems they were delaying it. A little too long for Sesshomaru's liking.

Sesshomaru's glare got colder and darker as he looked at Kagome. One scent he did not want while with an enemy. Tears also were smelt and Sesshomaru could recognize them anywhere. He saw Kagome shutter and lower her bow and arrow.

"Inuyasha, let's go," Kagome said, pulling Inuyasha's sleeve. Inuyasha finally knocked out of his daze and reluctantly followed Kagome. Once he saw the worst glare from anyone coming from Sesshomaru, he nearly ran off with his tail between his legs. He put his sword away and followed Kagome, looking over his shoulder. He didn't want to be taken off guard if Sesshomaru was to strike. Just before they got out of earshot, they heard Sesshomaru's voice. Both Inuyasha and Kagome and stopped where they were. They could hear his conversation barely, but they could still tell the tone, volume and pitch.

"What are you doing here? I want you to return. Now," Sesshomaru said.

"I can't let you just walk out of my life without saying goodbye," a female said.

"Kaori, if we met like this, it would be harder," Sesshomaru said.

Inuyasha's eyes went wide. Sesshomaru was intended with Kaori? Princess of all? He'll be killed. Almost all demons knew that.

"So the last time I would see you is crying my eyes out because you're leaving?" Kaori snapped.

"Wouldn't that happen here?" Sesshomaru asked in his cool tone.

"I'm not letting you go!" Kaori yelled. They heard Sesshomaru grunt and then silence.

"So, tackling me to the ground you think will keep me here?" Sesshomaru said softly.

Inuyasha nearly giggled, but Kagome hit him on the arm. She held a finger to her lips and kept listening on the conversation.

"It's the least I can do," Kaori said softly.

"Kaori, I don't want to go either. But I don't want to be killed by your hands," Sesshomaru said. "Especially since you're the one I love."

Inuyasha's eyes were wider than ever. His brother in love? 'I thought he said that would never happen?' Inuyasha thought and continued to listen.

"I love you too," Kaori said.

It was silent again. Birds chirped and some bees buzzed, but no more from Kaori and Sesshomaru.

Kagome decided to sit down and wait for the continuation of the conversation, but Inuyasha held her arm. He didn't say anything and pulled her away.

"What was that about?" Kagome asked once they had stopped.

"If my brother is saying goodbye to the woman who he loves, which happens to be Princess Kaori, it wouldn't be wise to listen in," Inuyasha said and stated heading back to camp.

"Why not?" Kagome asked.

"We were lucky enough to hear what we did without him catching us. If we stayed any longer, we risked being caught," Inuyasha told her, stopping and waiting for Kagome to catch up.

"So?" Kagome said. "What do you think will become of those two?"

"I don't know, Kagome. But one day I will kill Sesshomaru," Inuyasha said, looking at Kagome with some sadness in his eyes. "But that will also be the day the world goes into chaos."

Kagome gasped and hurried up with Inuyasha. He explained everything to her, but Sesshomaru and Kaori will still on the grass next to the well. Kagome was on top of Sesshomaru, trying to pin him down. But she knew if he wanted to get up, he could easily do so.

"I promise to visit," he told her. "Just stay in the village or your time."

"No. I want to be with you," Kaori told him.

"You heard your mother," Sesshomaru said.

"Yeah. Just do as I say and everything will be just fine. I mean, we've been fine for a month," Kaori told him.

"But tomorrow I could tell you to do something and the angel would appear and attempt to kill me," Sesshomaru told her.

"I didn't hurt you before. And I fought my control back," Kaori told him. A tear escaped her eye. "I just don't want to be without you."

He flicked the tear away and smirked sweetly. His eyes held love, not hatred.

"Look, it's just not meant to be. We tried and it didn't work. It's all we can do," he told her.

More tears fell and some fell onto Sesshomaru's face. He closed his eyes. The more he saw her pain and sorrow, the more he considered her plan. But he knew it wouldn't work. He sat up and held her close.

"One day together and we'll say our farewells, ok?" Sesshomaru asked.

He saw a nod, but he knew tomorrow Kaori would try to keep him with her. It would pain him to watch himself leave her, so he planned to do it tomorrow while she slept. Tomorrow morning and then disappear out of her life. He brushed sweaty bangs out of her face and kissed her forehead. Kaori looked up and they kissed on the lips. Neither wanted to say goodbye ever, but both knew they had to.

Sesshomaru held Kaori close and took tears off of her cheeks.

"Never cry in front of me," Sesshomaru told her in a soft tone.

Kaori didn't answer, but closed her eyes. She would miss his exotic smell and they way his arms would hold her. She most likely wouldn't be able to sleep without being in his arms and would become an empty shell by the time one day was over without him.

"You've been without me for years, remember?" Sesshomaru reminded.

"That was before I fell in love with you," Kaori told him.

"I see. I'll try my best to keep Rin and Jaken away from us for today, but remember, I have to go tomorrow," he told her, kissing her lips again.

"I'll miss you," Kaori told him.

"I will miss you too," Sesshomaru told her.

"Awe, how sweet," a female said in the shadows. "Lord and princess, in love, together. No longer one-sided, I see."

Sesshomaru growled deep in his throat and Kaori heard a playful gasp.

"You wouldn't attack your intended, would you?" The female asked, stepping out. A fan came first before the face and body of Kagura.

"Kagura, this isn't the best time to show yourself," Sesshomaru growled, standing up, leaving Kaori sitting on the grass.

"Well, I'm not exactly in control when I need to speak with you. As you realize, Naraku is in control of me, so blame this one on him," Kagura said.

Sesshomaru looked around and saw many red eyes shown. More than when he was with the cougars. Kaori was in danger and it was because of him. He placed a hand on the handle of Tokijin and saw Kagura smirk.

"Sesshomaru, don't do it," Kaori yelled. Sesshomaru looked back at her and then at Kagura. He finally noticed the smirk and released his hold on the sword. He flexed his fingers and extended his claws. A droplet of poison showed on all of them.

"Kaori, don't you remember this man is in love with me, not you?" Kagura asked, still looking at Sesshomaru.

Kaori smirked and stood.

"Stay put," Sesshomaru told her. Bad idea.

The Uzuha Kaori angel was heard in the back of Kaori's head. While Kaori had control, she cried out, "Sesshomaru."

He turned to her and saw her eyes turning to fire red. Flames were igniting around Kaori and in her palms.

"I must thank him one day. He always tends to be the one who surfaces me. Say bye to your love, Kaori. It's the last time you'll see his amber eyes glow with life."

"No," Kaori said before darkness covered her sight. She opened her eyes and her sight was blurry. She mentally collapsed, and watch the angel's fire reflect off of Sesshomaru's eyes. It coloured his hair orange and she thought he looked just fine like that, but it would be the last time she would ever see him alive. She started crying and some tears made their way outside.

"Kaori," Sesshomaru said. Kagura smiled widely and waved her hand. The red eyes disappeared along with herself. Let Sesshomaru be killed by his own love. Better than expected. She was told to kill Sesshomaru, but now her hands wouldn't be dirty. She fled off towards Naraku, good news in hand.

Sesshomaru had his hands full on the ground. Kaori was already attacking him, but tears were falling as well.

"No, stop this! Stop crying!"

'I will cry. I will always cry,' Kaori thought.

"You truly love him, huh? Well, watch him be burnt to a crisp, girl."

Kaori opened her eyes and saw Sesshomaru had leaped into the sky. He had to protect himself, but he wasn't going to attack her.

'Damn it! It's the angel. I swear, she better get some control soon, or I'll be out of energy,' Sesshomaru thought and looked behind him. Two red wings were behind Kaori, allowing her flight. Their attack had escaladed to the skies. Kaori still attacked her with fire, but Sesshomaru could avoid them better in the skies.

He got tired eventually and landed in the village and told everyone to flee. No one listened to him until they saw their leader and her state. Many ran, screaming exactly what the other village had screamed.

"Uzuha Kaori angel!"

Sesshomaru ran, Kaori hot on his heels. He avoided all of her attacks. Eventually, he got to a canyon. He looked behind him and saw Kaori coming closer to him, slowly, like hunting her prey. Well, he was the prey and she had just got him.

It seemed to go very slowly. He saw her ignite her hand with fire and shoot it at him. He couldn't fly because he was out of energy and if he leaped, he would never make it to the other side. He stood and closed his eyes, knowing the ball of fire was heading his way. Kaori watched behind her own eyes as her hand ignited a ball of flames and saw him close his eyes. Tears fell from her eyes as the ball flew at him. Kaori tried to yell at him to move, run, fly or anything. Anything to avoid the flames that were to kill him. And then she saw his body ignite into flames.